Croatian Football Federation and the Japan Football Association to strengthen partnership

Alongside president Kustić, the high-level HNS delegation in Tokyo included Stipe Pletikosa, technical director of the senior and U-21 national teams, and Josip Tomaško, HNS deputy general secretary.

The JFA leadership, headed by president Miyamoto, hosted the Croatian delegation. The meeting was also attended by general secretary Kazuyuki Kageyama, technical director Masanaga Kageyama, and head of the international department Yosuke Mihara.

The Cooperation Agreement will further strengthen the ties between the two federations, covering six main areas of collaboration: the organisation of friendly matches and various exchange programmes across all age categories, a coach exchange programme, a referee exchange programme, knowledge-sharing between the two administrations, exchange of expertise in the areas of sponsorship, TV and media rights, and exchange of knowledge in match organisation.

"I would like to thank president Miyamoto and his colleagues for the warm welcome and for an open and constructive discussion. Since the early 1990s, Japan has made extraordinary progress in football development and is today the most successful football association in Asia, with its national team a regular participant at World Cups. We saw for ourselves in Qatar three years ago how strong, competitive and spirited their team is. That is why I am very pleased that we have agreed to strengthen our cooperation, as I believe both federations can benefit greatly from exchanging experiences and knowledge in all areas – from youth development to coaches, referees, and administration", said HNS president Marijan Kustić.

"It was a great pleasure to host the leadership of the Croatian Football Federation, and I would like to thank president Kustić and his colleagues for a pleasant and meaningful discussion. Croatia is truly a global football phenomenon – a country of four million people that has won three medals at World Cups, which is an incredible achievement. We have great respect for Croatian football, and it will be our pleasure to deepen cooperation with HNS in this way, to the benefit of both federations", said JFA president Tsuneyasu Miyamoto.

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